TBH I never expected much of the harvard sq / central sq indian buffets - kind of expected to get what I paid for, and that came out about right.
Also true of buffets in nyc, where I think Indian food is better overall. Even the best of them have mixed quality - naan is hot and fresh to the table, the rest of the offerings one has to assess freshness on any given day. Sometimes there’s one good curry and a couple of vegetables, others there’s an interesting kabab and a dal that’s fresh.
Chaat at a buffet or otherwise one always has to adjust chutneys to taste.
Only one North Indian restaurant in nyc ever had dosa that I know of, then only on the weekend buffet, and always stacked in a steam container (actually that’s how my tamilian friends do them at home too, when they’re made at one go for the family). I might have asked them to save me a crisp one when they had to restock the table anyway.
I think about what $20 would buy at the same restaurant, or at a non-indian restaurant or buffet and then it doesn’t bother me that much.
Haven’t had a memorable in the last year or so, so can’t help, unfortunately. The Maharajah buffet was memorably bad though, and I thought it post-worthy.
Yes, of course, but there’s no way to adjust a hard dahiwada, unless they’ll let you sit for hours while the wada softens in the yoghurt. Similarly, it’s hard to adjust the seasoning of pani puri on the fly.
For twenty bucks, my experience is that you can get a lot of very good food at a wide range of restaurants. Tough goat, thin roti-like naan, etc., are appalling enough for me not to want to drop my money there.
Isn’t that an oxymoron - in my experience any type of buffet is only good if one cares more about quantity than quality, e.g. cold or overcooked food, dried out stuff etc.
I’m not defending Maharaja in any way, those were general observations about indian buffets and expectations relative to a la carte offerings.
Do they have the water and puris kept out for assembly? Water is always adjusted to taste - even when you eat it on the street - the guy does multiple dips based on how you want it: chutney waters first, then the main water. At home or at a restaurant, the chutneys are provided near the water so the spice, tang, and sweetness can be “fixed.”
Apples to apples, entrees at a place like this typically run $15-20, breads $3-5, apps $5-10. I’d guess the quality of the a la carte food is better, for obvious reasons - I wouldn’t really expect that on the buffet. Re goat - I’m very wary of it being correctly cooked anywhere, even a la carte; I rarely if ever order it out.
But overall, I agree - my solution is generally to skip the buffet if it looks a little iffy around the edges.
Certain foods do dry out or overcook on a buffet table, but certain sauced dishes (such as Indian curries) can be kept at a warm temperature for a while before they break bad.
The best buffets I’ve had around this area are Ritu ki Rasoi in Burlington and Godavari in Woburn.
(Edited to say: I guess I said as much some time ago, above! I’ve been to Ritu Ki a few times over the years and it’s generally good. But order dosas off the menu instead of getting the ones they bring around.)
I really must go there. I have this handicap that I divide my time between Cambridge and Manhattan (hard life, I know – and I keep trying to get this unique position across to my daughter who was born to it and takes for granted that she can see the glass flowers one day and walk the High Line the next), and when in Cambridge am inclined to stay put and not drive to the 'burbs.
Here’s a thought: you’re a walker – may I piggyback to Burlington?
Burlington is a bit farther than even I dare hoof. But I live in Medford, so it’s not that far afield. I head that way a couple times a month for an HMart/Market Basket/Burlington Wine & Spirits/Trader Joe’s run, and generally do some sort of lunch out that way as an added bonus. There’s some decent spots in that general area.
Besides the aforementioned (twice above!) Godavari and Ritu Ki Rasoi, regular area lunch stops include the Burlington outpost of Sichuan Gourmet, the place in HMart that is all the way down at the end near the prepared foods (it’s sad that I don’t know this stall name, have eaten here a bunch), excellent pork gyros at Olympia Grille and Louie’s in Woburn for pizza. Occasionally have gotten solid calzones at Marco’s, burgers and dogs at WuBurger, decent Greek specialties like patstitsio at The Restaurant (though the atmosphere is kind of weird at this cafeteria style joint) and good Brazilian stuff at Central Grille in Woburn. (Roma’s, the Italian bakery across from Central Grille is also worth a look if you happen to be there, though it’s no destination. Bread is good. Has an OK Sicilian slice if you go for that sort of thing–and I do.).
The way that we drive back from our shopping runs out that way also puts some of Arlington in play, so the Home Taste branch there is a great stop. Also really like Toraya, where it can be tough to get a seat because it’s so tiny but has really nice sushi and donburi bowls.
I’ve been meaning to check out Sabzi in Arlington too, but haven’t made it yet. We’ve also made sometime forays slightly further afield after our grocery shopping and hit up things like Khao Hom in Billerica or Massimo’s, Slice Pizza, Sei Bar, The Bread Shop and Sonny Noto’s in Wakefield. (they make a really great steak and cheese).
Amazing post, passing_thru. Is Louie’s as good as the hype? I’ve been thinking about grabbing a couple of pies, asking them to undercook a little, and finishing on the pizza steel at home.
I honestly dont know anything about the hype when it comes to Louies, haha. The pizza scene in Boston is somewhat worse than it seems like it should be, overall, imo. Louies makes a good pizza and the place itself has a little character. I wouldn’t go out of my way to go there, but its quality if you’re out that way, I think.
Met friends for lunch today at Ritu Ki Rasoi and they’re still on top of their buffet game in terms of variety and freshness. I’d never seen beetroot poori before and they brought around more hot dosas than we could eat.
In past we’d often go on weekdays but one of us is now working too far away. The weekend buffet is a notch higher (five entrees instead of four, multiple apps and desserts) but still a great deal.
Since I hadn’t been in a while I was pleasantly surprised to see that Hello Brother, a shiny new (since September) Indian grocery had opened next door. I was too full to do more than browse but will be back for some real shopping.
